Gadgets That Actually Earn Their Place Onboard

From bore cameras to hookah rigs and 3D printers, we zero in on the tech that solves real problems instead of just burning watts and locker space.

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Movie night via portable projector setup brings the anchorage together. (Photo/ Jaclyn Jeffrey)

For better or worse, technology is changing cruising. It is turning sailboats into floating workshops, offices, cafes and even cinemas. While not every cruiser is adopting these changes, many modern cruising boats now carry far more electronics than they did even ten years ago. The difference is that today’s gadgets are no longer just for entertainment. Many have become genuine problem solvers—tools that reduce guesswork, save time and sometimes save money.

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Jaclyn Jeffrey didn't grow up sailing but took it up on a whim during the pandemic. She and her husband bought a boat to learn to sail on, then promptly bought a second and decided to go cruising. After living aboard in the chilly Pacific Northwest for two years, she's cruising Mexico with her husband and dog onboard their 1979 Fast Passage 39, Raicilla. When not sailing and surfing, she works as a freelance writer or on the endless boat projects that come with full-time cruising.